Comparison of opportunities and perceptions towards neurosurgery between the public and private sector in Pakistan: a national survey of medical students and recent graduates.

Public and private medical institutes must adhere to the same standards of quality set by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC). However, studies have noted varied learning environments. The current study aims to assess opportunities and compare the differences in perceptions between the two sectors.

Into the Neuroscape: Perceptions of Pakistani Medical Students and Recent Graduates toward Neurosurgery.

 Neurosurgery receives several applicants every year, but the decreasing size of the neurosurgery workforce in Pakistan despite evidence of initial student interest is perplexing. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate the perspective of medical students and recent graduates to get a holistic view of perceptions toward neurosurgery.  A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of medical students and recent graduates from different medical colleges.

Epidemiology of glioblastoma in Pakistan: a secondary analysis of the Pakistan Brain Tumor Epidemiology Study (PBTES).

Purpose: The incidence and outcomes of glioblastoma (GBM) patients in Pakistan remain unassessed owing to a lack of cancer registries and the absence of population-based studies. For any specific population-based oncological intervention, epidemiology must be studied. Therefore, this study aims to examine the epidemiological characteristics of glioblastoma patients in Pakistan, as part of a secondary analysis of a nationwide epidemiological study.

Infrastructural Barriers to Neurosurgical Care of Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Appropriate surgical infrastructure is important for improving patient outcomes. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often struggle to provide adequate brain tumor surgery due to fractured infrastructure. This study aims to identify and evaluate barriers to surgical care infrastructure for brain tumors in LMICs.

Endovascular thrombectomy after 24 hours for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the role of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion in the very late window (>24 hours).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases till 2024. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Middle meningeal artery embolization alone versus combined with conventional surgery in the management of chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare outcomes of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) alone versus combined with conventional surgery in the management of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH).

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and CINAHL, followed by a meta-analysis comparing recurrence rates, surgical rescue, mortality, in-hospital complications, and length of hospital stay was conducted. Mean differences and risk ratios were pooled using a random effects model, with subgroup analysis performed using Cochrane RevMan 5.

Adjuvant therapy for brain tumors in LMICs: A systematic review of barriers and possible solutions.

Background: Adjuvant therapy is an important tool in the arsenal of brain tumor management and can improve patients' outcomes significantly but low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often face challenges in provision. Therefore, our study aims to highlight barriers and strategies to adjuvant therapy of brain tumors in low-resource settings.

Method: A comprehensive search of literature was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Scopus, from inception to October 20, 2022.

Challenges to Early Detection of Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Objective: While early diagnosis of brain tumors is essential for improving prognoses, several challenges prevent early diagnosis of these illnesses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The objective of this systematic review is to identify and evaluate the barriers and challenges to early detection of brain tumors in LMICs, as well as to propose potential solutions.

Methods: A thorough search of the literature was carried out with the aid of multiple databases, including Google Scholar, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus.

Governance Challenges to the Neurosurgical Care of Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often struggle to provide adequate neurosurgical care due to poor governance and institutional efforts, making access to care difficult. Therefore, our review of literature aims to identify gaps in government, national, and institutional efforts to combat barriers to neurosurgical care of brain tumors in LMICs, to inform future policy and action planning.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and CINAHL without language restrictions from inception to October 20, 2022.

Discovery of GS-7682, a Novel 4'-Cyano-Modified -Nucleoside Prodrug with Broad Activity against Pneumo- and Picornaviruses and Efficacy in RSV-Infected African Green Monkeys.

Acute respiratory viral infections, such as pneumovirus and respiratory picornavirus infections, exacerbate disease in COPD and asthma patients. A research program targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) led to the discovery of GS-7682 (), a novel phosphoramidate prodrug of a 4'-CN-4-aza-7,9-dideazaadenosine -nucleoside GS-646089 () with broad antiviral activity against RSV (EC = 3-46 nM), human metapneumovirus (EC = 210 nM), human rhinovirus (EC = 54-61 nM), and enterovirus (EC = 83-90 nM). Prodrug optimization for cellular potency and lung cell metabolism identified 5'-methyl [()-hydroxy(phenoxy)phosphoryl]-l-alaninate in combination with 2',3'-diisobutyrate promoieties as being optimal for high levels of intracellular triphosphate formation and .

Applications, limitations and advancements of ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging: A scoping review.

Background: Ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF-MRI) has emerged as an alternative with several portable clinical applications. This review aims to comprehensively explore its applications, potential limitations, technological advancements, and expert recommendations.

Methods: A review of the literature was conducted across medical databases to identify relevant studies.

Brain Drain: A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating Migration Intentions of Neurosurgery Trainees in Pakistan.

 Pakistan has a significant proportion of medical graduates who intend to leave the country for better opportunities abroad, leading to a brain drain. However, the push and pull factors within neurosurgery remain unexplored, emphasizing the need for evaluation to enact policy changes.  We conducted a nationwide survey across 22 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan accredited neurosurgery training centers in all provinces of Pakistan.

Follow-Up Care for Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Existing Challenges and Strategies for the Future.

Background And Objectives: Brain tumors have a poor prognosis and a high death rate. Sufficient aftercare is necessary to enhance patient results. But follow-up care provision is fraught with difficulties in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where a variety of variables can impede access to care.

Workforce Challenges for the Neurosurgical Care of Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

Limited neurosurgical workforces remain one of the critical problems experienced in low resource settings. Therefore, our study aims to explore and summarize the key challenges to neurosurgical care of brain tumors in terms of workforce in LMICs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar from inception to October 20, 2022.

Virulence and resistance profiling of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from subclinical bovine mastitis in the Pakistani Pothohar region.

Mastitis is considered one of the most widespread infectious disease of cattle and buffaloes, affecting dairy herds. The current study aimed to characterize the Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from subclinical mastitis animals in Pothohar region of the country. A total of 278 milk samples from 17 different dairy farms around two districts of the Pothohar region, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, were collected and screened for sub clinical mastitis using California Mastitis Test.

Financing of Neurosurgical Care for Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries : A Scoping Review of Barriers and Strategies.

Background: Making neurosurgical care accessible to a larger portion of the population in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is integral due to the high mortality and morbidity associated with brain tumors. However, the high cost of care often makes it financially out of reach for many individuals. Therefore, this review aims to identify barriers to neurosurgical care of brain tumors in terms of financing in LMICs.

Temporal Delays in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comparative Meta-Analysis of Global Literature.

Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to compare: 1) time from traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the hospital, and 2) time within the hospital to intervention or surgery, by country-level income, World Health Organization region, and healthcare payment system.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted and followed by a meta-analysis comparing duration of delays (prehospital and intrahospital) in TBI management. Means and standard deviations were pooled using a random effects model and subgroup analysis was performed using R software.